The turn of the 20th century ushered in a new era of innovation. The fairly new development of the assembly line made vehicles widely available, flappers were all the rage, and architecture advanced immensely. The United States was experiencing an immense economic boom and immigrants were pouring into the cities. Housing in the cities became increasingly scarce. The growing middle class was leaving the city for the greener pastures of the suburbans and rural communities. With the expansion of trolly lines and railroads, the possibility of commuting to work was made available. Stately Victorian mansions were out of the question for anyone but the upperclass. Therefore, the availiblity of mail order homes was the answer for the dilemma. In 1908, the newly formed Sears, Roebuck and Co., a mail order service, began offering mail order homes in their catalogs. Although Sears was not the first to offer mail order homes, they were the largest seller of homes. From 1908-1940, Sears sold more than 75,000 homes through their catalog. Over that period of time, Sears offered 447 different floor plans, allowing each customer to choose a home which fit both their personal tastes and budget. Entire homes were shipped by railroad car from the Sears warehouse to the railroad station closest to the customer. Everything from intricate carved staircase pieces to nails and varnish was included in the house kit. Over time, the Sears Modern Homes catalog came to offer three different lines of homes: Honor Bilt, Standard Bilt, and Simplex Sectionals. Honor Bilt homes were the most expensive and best quality. Cypress siding and cedar shingles adorned most Honor Bilt exteriors. Many interiors included the customers choice of yellow pine, oak, or maple wood flooring and trim. Standard Bilt and Simplex Sectional homes weren't as nice or as expensive as the Honor Bilt series. However, they made great summer homes. Sears ability to mass produce parts for home construction greatly lessened the total cost of a home, while still offering uncompromised quality. The use of balloon framing, pre-cut lumber, drywall, and asphalt shingles also helped lower costs and allowed an ease in construction never before experienced. Balloon framing did not require a team of skilled carpenters, as did early types of construction. With the use of pre-cut lumber and the new framing technique, one carpenter was sufficient. Before drywall, the use of plaster and lathe was common. However, the use of plaster and lathe was very expensive and required a skilled carpenter. A relatively new product, drywall was able to be inexpensively shipped in large quantities, ease to install, and provided fire-safety protection. Another new product which added to the ease was the invention of asphalt shingles. Before, wood and tin shingles were the norm. However, tin was noisy during storms, and wood shingles were highly flammable, and both again required a skilled carpenter. Asphalt shingles were easily installed, inexpensive, and fireproof. The estimated time it took to build a kit house was 352 carpenter hours, compared to the 583 carpenter hours it took to build a normal house. In 1923, Sears expanded their line to include the growing demand for from rural customers for ready-made farm buildings. The simple durable nature of Sears buildings made them especially attractive to farmers. In the 1920s, Sears began offering financing plans for their mail order homes. However, due to the large amounts of payment defaults during the Great Depression, Sears discontinued this practice in 1934. Today, the United States is dotted with the lasting legacy of these mail order homes of the 1920s. The homes stand as testaments to a bygone era of improvement and innovation.
Many of the home architecture styles of the 1920s had been carried over from the 1910s. One of the most popular styles was the Bungalow. Also popular during this time was the Tudor Revival, Spanish Mission, Craftsman, and Art Deco.
Tudor Revival
Tudor Revival homes became extremely popular suburban homes during the 1920s. Many are characterized by half timbering, stucco or masonry veneered walls, steeply pitched roofs, large decorative chimneys, and tall narrow windows with small window panes
Spanish Mission Revival
Extremely popular in California and the Southwestern states were the Mission Revival homes. In the 1920s, architects were combining elements from the Mission style with other popular styles, such as Prairie or Pueblo. Mission style homes feature stucco walls, red tile roofs, arched windows, large square pillars, and roof parapets. Some may resemble an old Spanish church. Some of the first homes in Mission style were built in Californina. Because of the deeply shaded porches and dark interiors, Mission style homes were suited for warmer climates.
Craftsman
The Craftsman movement encouraged originality, simplicity, usage of natural forms and colors, and concerned with distinguishing the more modest home of the middle class worker. Craftsman homes, often bungalows, featured wood, stone or stucco siding, low pitched roofs, exposed rafters, open floor plan, many windows and some stained glass or decorative windows, dark woods, and porches contained large columns. Craftsman style homes, especially the bungalow were very popular with mail order homes.
Art Deco
The Art Deco style was first and foremost a decorative and ornamental style, focusing on being modern. It represented anything that was luxurious, beautiful, and as was said before, modern. It is characterized by zigzags, sunbursts, geometric patterns, bold colors, chevrons, the liberal use of sleek materials, ie stainless steel, marble, or glass, and Egyptian motifs. The style represented and symbolized the carefree, "Roaring Twenties". Generally, the Art Deco style was used on skyscrapers, hotels, cinemas, or other commercial buildings. One example of this was the Chrysler Building, built in 1928 in New York City.
Many of the home architecture styles of the 1920s had been carried over from the 1910s. One of the most popular styles was the Bungalow. Also popular during this time was the Tudor Revival, Spanish Mission, Craftsman, and Art Deco.
Tudor Revival
Tudor Revival homes became extremely popular suburban homes during the 1920s. Many are characterized by half timbering, stucco or masonry veneered walls, steeply pitched roofs, large decorative chimneys, and tall narrow windows with small window panes
Spanish Mission Revival
Extremely popular in California and the Southwestern states were the Mission Revival homes. In the 1920s, architects w
Craftsman
The Craftsman movement encouraged originality, simplicity, usage of natural forms and colors, and concerned with distinguishing the more modest home of the middle class worker. Craftsman homes, often bungalows, featured wood, stone or stucco siding, low pitched roofs, exposed rafters, open floor plan, many windows and some stained glass or decorative windows, dark woods, and porches contained large columns. Craftsman style homes, especially the bungalow were very popular with mail order homes.
Art Deco
The Art Deco style was first and foremost a decorative and ornamental style, focusing on being modern. It represented anything that was luxurious, beautiful, and as was said before, modern. It is characterized by zigzags, sunbursts, geometric patterns, bold colors, chevrons, the liberal use of sleek materials, ie stainless steel, marble, or glass, and Egyptian motifs. The style represented and symbolized the carefree, "Roaring Twenties". Generally, the Art Deco style was used on skyscrapers, hotels, cinemas, or other commercial buildings. One example of this was the Chrysler Building, built in 1928 in New York City.